Sitting with a bunch of Israelis, drinking coffee, beer and smoking cigarettes .... never been with so many people who smoke........shmucks. Just tonight I sat listening to a 90 minute conversation about the price of underwear. Some guy had some new undies in his car and people at the table were picking out undies and paying the guy 12 shekels (3 bucks) per undie. Only in Israel could you have a 90 minute discussion of the price of undies. All with chain smokers. In the backgrou... read more

I am staying in a beautiful neighbourhood outside Jerusalem in the west bank. It is on the edge of a canyon like grand canyon, except smaller. To the north east is Jericho, which I can't go to because with Israeli license plates, I would be dragged out and killed. The desert air is pleasant. It is very hot during the day and the night breeze is cool. Stars appear so close that you can touch them.... read more